WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the Indonesian coast on Sunday, 86 miles northwest of Gorontalo, Sulawesi, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake was 13 miles deep and took place at 12:02 p.m. EST (1702 GMT), which was 1:02 a.m. local time on Monday, the USGS said. The USGS revised its first report of 7.8 magnitude and depth of 20.5 miles.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - There have been no immediate reports of damage, but a powerful earthquake has struck beneath the waters off eastern Indonesia.

The quake briefly generated tsunami warnings for coastal areas within 600 miles of the epicenter, causing some residents in coastal towns to flee their homes in panic.

The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake's preliminary magnitude at 7.5 and says it struck 54 miles from Gorantalo, a coastal town on Sulawesi (soo-lah-WAY'-see) island. It was centered 13 miles beneath the sea. It was followed by a strong aftershock.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake had the potential to generate a destructive tsunami, but an official with Indonesia's geological agency says the threat has passed.

Gorontalo is North Sulawesi, not near Makassar with the current avian flu outbreak.

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Gorontalo Earthquake Kills Four People

JAKARTA - The victim died in the earthquake in Gorontalo in the early days was again increasing. Up to 1430 hrs WIB, a number of victims killed four people.

"The victim is killed Hasan Pau (41), Bunobogu (40), Ede (45), and Lipunoto (3). When all this is still a victim identification," said the head of the Crisis Management Center for the Health Ministry Rustam Pakaya in a short message received okezone , Mon (17/11/2008).

In addition to eating the victims killed four people, earthquake 7.7 Richter scale also lead to 59 residents and 32 residents of Gorontalo Buol District of Central Sulawesi injured and must undergo treatment.

"If house 800 residents and one bridge also heavily damaged. When this team is still in the field to help the victims," pungkasnya. (Teb)

Kochi (ANTARA News) - As many as four people reported killed and 764 buildings totally destroyed and thousands of citizens still survive in refugee result of the earthquake and said 7.7 on the Richter scale which runs a number of subdistricts in Buol District, Central Sulawesi, on Monday at around 01.00 Wita.

In addition, said the Head of Public Relations Pemkab Buol Syamsuddin S Mangge to ANTARA News in Palu, thousands of houses and other minor damage and at least five schools and mosques damaged some weight.

Also recorded 1,200 meters wooden bridge that connects the houses of the population in the district of Paleleh and Lipunoto totally destroyed because of the earthquake shocks.

"That data is only temporary until Monday night at 20.00. Collection is still running while officials Pemkab busy distributing food and medicines to displaced residents who fear the threat of tsunami," said Syamsuddin who contacted through phone genggamnya.

Meanwhile, one victim died as a result of something other debris from the building Kali village, Kecamatan Lipunoto still belm exact identity is known.

According to Syamsuddin, there are five sub-districts with the most severe earthquake which dihantam Subdistrict Bokat, Bunobogu, Paleleh, Lipunoto and gadung, but there are not isolated kaibat damaged bridges and roads.

Community that initially panicked and fled berebutan to pengunungan fear of tsunami waves start now calm and most have returned to their homes.

However, thousands of residents still survive in refugee homes because they can no longer inhabited, and there is also fear that inhabit the house as a result of crack-crack.

Pemkab Buol has been distributing food and medicine to residents in need.

"There are three teams that were formed to visit the residents of the teritpa falls in the number of each district, led by regent, vice regent and the local Social Kadis," he said and added that Pemkab still need help of the community and the provincial government and the central government to help alleviate the burden victims.

Tektonik earthquake 7.7 on the Richter Scale this Buol District and the province of Gorontalo on the betetangga around at 01:02:32 Wita. Earthquake in the central position of 1.41 degrees, LU, 122.18 degrees BT with the depth of about 10 kilometers, or 138 km northwest of Gorontalo, or Kuang 50 km from the North Subdistrict Paleleh, Buol District, Central Sulawesi. (*)